AHA Affirms Commitment to Social Justice Advocacy

(Washington, DC, Feb. 25, 2016)—Leaders from the American Humanist Association affirm and celebrate humanism’s commitment to social justice advocacy, and to demonstrate this commitment, the American Humanist Association is welcoming humanist activist and writer Sincere Kirabo as its new social justice coordinator.

“As humanists, we must ensure that this one life we have is characterized by justice and egalitarianism for all,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “Humanists have long stood for social justice, but are seeking to more directly tie our progressive philosophy of life in alliance with racial and ethnic minorities, women and LGBTQ people.”

“I am proud to stand with the American Humanist Association to advance awareness of humanism and social justice, as well as to foster the growing diversity within the humanist movement,” said Sincere Kirabo, social justice coordinator for the American Humanist Association. “Humanism’s dedication to critical thinking should not just be applied to matters of religious faith and supernaturalism but also to racism, sexism, and other harmful prejudices within our society that impede progress.”

Since its founding in 1941, the American Humanist Association’s leaders and members have supported women’s rights, reproductive rights, marriage equality and racial justice, and the organization will continue its advocacy work to advance equality and justice for disenfranchised groups in our society. To bring together humanist activists committed to social justice, the American Humanist Association will form the Black Humanist Alliance, a group within the AHA that will advance racial justice and equality. The American Humanist Association will also strengthen its Feminist Humanist Alliance (formerly named the Feminist Caucus) and its LGBTQ Humanist Alliance (formerly named the LGBTQ Humanist Council). Other adjunct organizations that address the issues of disenfranchised communities may be added in the future.

To further solidify the relationship between humanism and social justice, American Humanist Association President Rebecca Hale and Vice-President Jennifer Kalmanson have published “2016 Humanism,” a document discussed by the AHA board of directors that explains why humanism is an inherently progressive philosophy. As an ethical worldview based on rationality and scientific reasoning, humanism rejects the divisive superstitions and stereotypes that have long marginalized certain groups of people such as women, people of color and LGBTQ individuals, and denied them their full humanity. As humanists who may also embrace labels such as atheist, agnostic, freethinker, and skeptic, the American Humanist Association board of directors and staff are committed to aspiring to the greater good of humanity.

More about the American Humanist Association’s social justice adjunct organizations can be found here.

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Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming philosophy of humanism, which—without beliefs in any gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.